Compared on one dog · prices checked October 21, 2026
Cheapest fresh dog food: brands ranked by price per day
Viva Raw is the cheapest calorie-based option here at an estimated $9.59 a day for a 30 lb adult, using its store catalog price checked October 21, 2026. The comparison includes cooked, raw, air-dried and freeze-dried foods.
Calories a day
744
kcal · methods 694–794
Viva RawBeef for Dogs
527g
$9.59 a day · $292 a month
1 of 23744 kcal a day for a 30 lb adult, neutered, 1–3 hours calm walks. Viva Raw Beef for Dogs: 527 grams, $9.59 a day, $292 a month.
Estimates for healthy dogs at ideal weight. Ask your vet; weigh monthly and adjust. How we calculate
Every bowl for this dog
30 lb adult, neutered, 1–3 hours calm walks · 744 kcal a day. Sorted by price a day; “Show” puts the bowl next to your dog.
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VRViva Raw
527 g a day · 18.6 oz
$9.59a day · $292 a month
Beef for Dogs · Raw · 1,411 kcal/kg checked Oct 21
partner link -
JFJustFoodForDogs
477 g a day · 16.8 oz
$12.16a day · $370 a month
Beef & Russet Potato · Gently cooked · 1,559 kcal/kg checked Oct 21
partner link -
MMaev
722 g a day · 25.5 oz
$14.25a day · $433 a month
Raw · 1,030 kcal/kg checked Oct 21
No partner link. Similar with an open price: Viva Raw (partner link, opens in a new tab) $9.59 a day · Smallbatch (partner link, opens in a new tab) $14.45 a day
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SSmallbatch
155 g a day · 5.5 oz
$14.45a day · $439 a month
Pork Sliders Freeze-Dried Raw · Freeze-dried · 4,793 kcal/kg checked Oct 21
partner link -
JFJustFoodForDogs
807 g a day · 28.5 oz
$15.42a day · $469 a month
Fish & Sweet Potato · Gently cooked · 922 kcal/kg checked Oct 21
partner link -
NNNom Nom
623 g a day · 22 oz
$15.60a day · $474 a month
Beef Mash · Gently cooked · 1,194 kcal/kg checked Oct 21
No partner link. Similar with an open price: JustFoodForDogs (partner link, opens in a new tab) $15.42 a day · Smallbatch (partner link, opens in a new tab) $16.35 a day
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SSmallbatch
149 g a day · 5.3 oz
$16.35a day · $497 a month
Duck Sliders Freeze-Dried Raw · Freeze-dried · 5,004 kcal/kg checked Oct 21
partner link -
APA Pup Above
538 g a day · 19 oz
$16.56a day · $504 a month
Gently cooked · 1,384 kcal/kg checked Oct 21
No partner link. Similar with an open price: JustFoodForDogs (partner link, opens in a new tab) $15.42 a day · Smallbatch (partner link, opens in a new tab) $16.35 a day
By the brand’s own 2–3% rule No calories on the label: don’t compare these with the bowls above
- WFWe Feed RawBeef272–408 g$5.33–8.00 a day$162–243 a monthCheck price at We Feed Raw (partner link, opens in a new tab)
- DWDarwin'sNatural Selections Chicken272–408 g$5.62–8.43 a day$171–256 a monthCheck price at Darwin's (partner link, opens in a new tab)
“As a general rule, an adult pet should consume about 2-3% of their ideal body weight of Darwin’s raw food per day.”Darwin's, product page
Not enough open data yet
- FDThe Farmer's DogPrice after the quiz; no calories or price on its open pages (Oct 21), Walmart showed no priceOur review of The Farmer's Dog
No partner link. Similar with an open price: JustFoodForDogs (partner link, opens in a new tab) $12.16 a day · Viva Raw (partner link, opens in a new tab) $9.59 a day
Some buttons are partner links: we may earn a commission if you buy. Rows are sorted by price a day, never by commission.
Ranked on one dog
Which food costs the least per day?
Viva Raw Beef for Dogs has the lowest calorie-based cost. For cooked food, JustFoodForDogs Beef & Russet Potato starts at an estimated $12.16 a day, using the one-time price listed on its store on October 21, 2026.
The lower-looking We Feed Raw and Darwin's rows use body-weight portions, not calories. Those raw-food estimates do not establish the cost of feeding the same daily calories.
Compare calorie-based rows together; keep body-weight estimates separate.
| Brand and recipe | Type | Grams a day | Per day | Per month | Price basis |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| We Feed Raw Beef | Raw | 272–408 g* | $5.33–8.00 | $162–243 | Lowest plan price: “Plans start at $8.89/pound” |
| Darwin's Natural Selections Chicken | Raw | 272–408 g* | $5.62–8.43 | $171–256 | Catalog price for 2 lb |
| Viva Raw Beef for Dogs | Raw | 527 g | $9.59 | $292 | Catalog price for 2 lb |
| JustFoodForDogs Beef & Russet Potato | Cooked | 477 g | $12.16 | $370 | One-time price; the first subscription box is $91.00 |
| Maev Raw | Raw | 722 g | $14.25 | $433 | Subscription price; one-time $206 |
| Smallbatch Pork Sliders Freeze-Dried Raw | Freeze-dried | 155 g | $14.45 | $439 | Catalog price on the brand store |
| JustFoodForDogs Fish & Sweet Potato | Cooked | 807 g | $15.42 | $469 | Catalog price on the brand store |
| Nom Nom Beef Mash | Cooked | 623 g | $15.60 | $474 | PetSmart shelf price, not the subscription |
| Smallbatch Duck Sliders Freeze-Dried Raw | Freeze-dried | 149 g | $16.35 | $497 | Catalog price on the brand store |
| A Pup Above Gently Cooked | Cooked | 538 g | $16.56 | $504 | One-time price, plus shipping |
| Ollie Fresh Chicken | Cooked | 573 g | After quiz | — | price after quiz |
| Ollie Pork | Cooked | 483 g | After quiz | — | price after quiz |
By the brand’s 2–3% of body weight rule: no calorie figure on the label, not comparable with the calorie-based rows.
Price per day
Why does the daily cost vary?
JustFoodForDogs Venison & Squash reaches an estimated $21.74 a day at its brand-store catalog price on October 21, 2026. Unlike the lowest-cost raw option, it is cooked; both estimates supply the same daily calories.
Its label lists 872 kcal ME per kg as fed, versus Viva Raw's 1,411. Lower calorie density means more food by weight, so price per pound alone cannot tell you the daily cost.
Daily cost depends on both the purchase price and the recipe's calorie density.
- Viva Raw Beef for Dogs527 g · Raw$9.59
- JustFoodForDogs Beef & Russet Potato477 g · Cooked$12.16
- Maev Raw722 g · Raw$14.25
- Smallbatch Pork Sliders Freeze-Dried Raw155 g · Freeze-dried$14.45
- JustFoodForDogs Fish & Sweet Potato807 g · Cooked$15.42
- Nom Nom Beef Mash623 g · Cooked$15.60
- Smallbatch Duck Sliders Freeze-Dried Raw149 g · Freeze-dried$16.35
- A Pup Above Gently Cooked538 g · Cooked$16.56
- Smallbatch Lamb Small Bites Freeze-Dried Raw155 g · Freeze-dried$17.25
- JustFoodForDogs Venison & Squash853 g · Cooked$21.74
Calorie-based rows only; brands without an open price or calorie figure are listed apart.
| Viva Raw Beef for Dogs | $9.59 |
|---|---|
| JustFoodForDogs Beef & Russet Potato | $12.16 |
| Maev Raw | $14.25 |
| Smallbatch Pork Sliders Freeze-Dried Raw | $14.45 |
| JustFoodForDogs Fish & Sweet Potato | $15.42 |
| Nom Nom Beef Mash | $15.60 |
| Smallbatch Duck Sliders Freeze-Dried Raw | $16.35 |
| A Pup Above Gently Cooked | $16.56 |
| Smallbatch Lamb Small Bites Freeze-Dried Raw | $17.25 |
| JustFoodForDogs Venison & Squash | $21.74 |
No open price
Can quiz-only brands be ranked?
Ollie, Spot & Tango, Sundays for Dogs and The Farmer's Dog show prices only after their quizzes. Their starting figures are not quotes for this comparison dog.
Label calories still allow portion estimates: Ollie Fresh Chicken comes to 20.2 oz a day, versus 15.2 oz for Spot & Tango Beef & Brown Rice. Get a quote before deciding which is more affordable.
A brand's starting price cannot replace a quote for your dog.
Ollie
573 g a dayBrand’s own words: “At Ollie, our fresh dog food starts at less than $4 per day for small dogs and averages…”
Spot & Tango
431 g a dayBrand’s own words: “Spot & Tango's fresh plans start around $2 per day”
Sundays for Dogs
137 g a dayPrice only after the brand’s quiz.
The Farmer's Dog
no calorie figureBrand’s own words: “Plans start at about $2/day, and delivery options mostly range from 1 week to 2 months of…”
Lone Wolf Ranch
155 g a dayNo open price found.
Maev USDA Beef
676 g a dayNo open price found.
Calories or 2–3%
Is the body-weight rule comparable?
The 2–3% rule is guidance raw brands print, not a veterinary norm. For the 10 lb adult, Raw Paws Beef & Vegetable works out to 5.4 oz by calories, above the table's body-weight range.
For the 30 lb adult, the calorie estimate falls inside that range. Agreement for one dog does not make the methods interchangeable.
Use label calories to compare equal energy, rather than assuming a body-weight percentage supplies it.
| Dog | By calories | By 2–3% of body weight |
|---|---|---|
| 10 lb adult | 152 g | 91–136 g |
| 30 lb adult | 384 g | 272–408 g |
| 60 lb active adult | 769 g | 544–816 g |
The rule is what raw brands print; it is not a veterinary norm. Small dogs need more food per pound than the rule gives, large active dogs less or more depending on calories.
First-box offers
What happens after the first box?
Darwin's advertises 70% off the first box; its Awin listing runs until December 30, 2026. JustFoodForDogs lists 50% off the first order, 20% off the second and 5% off future orders on its own page.
These offers were checked with the listed prices. Maev's own-page offer is different: 13% off with subscription, rather than a first-box-only discount.
Budget using the ongoing price, not the introductory discount.
Darwin's
Get 70% off your first box at Darwin's!Listed until December 30, 2026
JustFoodForDogs
50% off 1st order, 20% off 2nd order, and 5% off future…On the brand page
Maev
13% off with subscriptionOn the brand page
How the list is made
How are the costs calculated?
One dog
30 lb adult, 744 kcal a day
Label calories
kcal per kg as printed by each brand
Open prices
listed prices with date, October 21, 2026
Same order
price per day, low to high
The ranking uses a 30 lb adult at an estimated 744 kcal a day, with a 694–794 kcal range between FEDIAF, AAHA and WSAVA methods, then converts label calories into portions and applies open prices as explained in the calculation method.
Treat portions as starting points, weigh your dog monthly and adjust; ask your vet about puppies, weight loss, allergies or medical diets.
The same calorie target makes costs comparable, but your dog's portion may need adjustment.
Partner links
Brands on this page with a partner link
- JustCheck price at JustFoodForDogs (partner link, opens in a new tab)partner link
Food Gently cookedFor Dogs - PetCheck price at PetPlate (partner link, opens in a new tab)partner link
Plate Gently cooked - We Feed RawRawCheck price at We Feed Raw (partner link, opens in a new tab)partner link
- Viva RawRawCheck price at Viva Raw (partner link, opens in a new tab)partner link
- Darwin'sRawCheck price at Darwin's (partner link, opens in a new tab)partner link
Buttons open the brand’s store in a new tab. They are partner links: if you buy, this site may earn a commission at no cost to you. Order and prices on this page do not depend on it.
Questions
Short answers
What is the cheapest fresh dog food if I want cooked meals?
Among the calorie-based cooked recipes compared here, JustFoodForDogs Beef & Russet Potato is lowest at $12.16 a day for the 30 lb adult. That estimate uses the dated one-time brand-store price above, not the first subscription box.
How do I find affordable fresh dog food?
Compare the ongoing price for the same daily calories. Check whether each figure is a catalog price, store shelf price, subscription price or introductory offer.
Are fresh dog food starting prices reliable comparisons?
They are the brands' own starting figures, not quotes for the same dog. A quiz quote is needed before comparing those plans with the open-price rows.
Do these daily costs include shipping and tax?
Prices exclude tax and shipping unless the brand includes them. Check the final checkout total before choosing a plan.
Sources
- 1FEDIAF Nutritional Guidelines 2025europeanpetfood.org · checked Oct 21, 2026
- 2JustFoodForDogs: Beef Russet Potatojustfoodfordogs.com · checked Oct 21, 2026
- 3Ollie: Ingredientsollie.com · checked Oct 21, 2026
- 4Spot & Tango: Beef and Brown Ricespotandtango.com · checked Oct 21, 2026
- 5Viva Raw: Beef for Dogsvivarawpets.com · checked Oct 21, 2026
- 6Sundays for Dogs: Beefsundaysfordogs.com · checked Oct 21, 2026
- 7The Farmer's Dog: Our Foodthefarmersdog.com · checked Oct 21, 2026
- 8JustFoodForDogs: Real Meat Venison Dog Food Recipejustfoodfordogs.com · checked Oct 21, 2026
- 9Maev: Raw Foodmeetmaev.com · checked Oct 21, 2026
- 10Darwin's: Natural & Raw Pet Food Delivery to Your Doordarwinspet.com · checked Oct 21, 2026
- 11Darwin's: Natural Selections for Dogs Chickendarwinspet.com · checked Oct 21, 2026